Fountain brush



Nov. 15, 1966 J. BIEGANOWSKI 3,284,838

FOUNTAIN BRUSH Filed July 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Man 1%,

l in INVENTOR.

Nov. 15, 1966 J. BIEGANOWSKI 3,284,838

' FOUNTAIN BRUSH Filed July 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NV E NTOR.

United States Patent-O 3,284,838 FOUNTAIN BRUSH Joseph Bieganowski, 5710 Pie IX Blvd, Apt. 1, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed July 9, 1964, Ser. No. 381,429 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-505) This invention relates generally to paint brushes and more particularly to an improved [form of paint brush whereby paint may be applied more efiiciently to the object or area requiring painting.

A survey of the prior art in this field reveals several automatic paint feed brushes of varying design all having as a main purpose the introduction of paint to the bristles of a brush by suitable duct means and while the majority of these prior devices appear to function satisfactorily, they nevertheless suffer from certain inherent disadvantages, a chief one being the fixed location of the discharge duct within the bristle of the brush. Thus, although a metering device is incorporated inmost of these prior devices whereby the flow of paint from the source is controlled there is little that the brush user can do to determine the area of the brush head wherein the paint needs most to be introduced. As an example, consider for instance the user requiring only the lightest film of paint upon the brush end. To achieve this result paint must be discharged into the brush head in a suflicient enough quantity to flow through the bristles to the tips thereof, the complete brush head becoming perhaps, unnecessarily paint loaded.

Again upon the brush head having been worn down by repeated use, the discharge nozzle of the paint duct becomes an obstacle, thus scoring the paint already applied. In the case of a plurality of discharge nozzles being used the problem becomes even more acute, the brush often being discarded while still having a long and useful working life.

Having in mind therefore, the disadvantages attendant upon the prior devices in this particular field and wishing to remedy the same, it is a primary object of my invention to provide a fountain brush tor paint and the like, referred to hereinafter by the abbreviated term of fountain brush which enables the user thereof to introduce a flow of paint to any area, or more specifically any depth, of the brush head.

It is another important object of the instant invention to provide a fountain brush, the flow of paint thereto being controlled by a simple-to-oeprate metering device.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a fountain brush having a bristle cap for use therewith during non-operational time or the like, the said cap effectively sealing off the paint supply duct.

Yet another object of the instant invention provides a fountain brush so constructed as to permit the swift and easy removal of the paint supply duct upon replacement thereof, being desirable.

A further object of my invention provides .a fountain brush, the terminal end of the paint supply d'ruct embodied therein being so treated as to minimize the incidence of inadvertent scoring of applied paint.

A still further object of the instant invention resides in providing a fountain brush of the character herein described which is yet relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The above and various other pertinent objects and features of the instant invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of parts and assemblies when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference designate like parts in the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fountain brush embodying my invention, a power supply for the feeding of paint thereto being illustrated on a reduced scale.

FIG. 2 is a sectional front elevation of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, taken on the line 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a fragmented detail view of the terminal section of a paint supply duct embodied in the invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation of the invention showing the metering device embodied therein.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of the invention showing the metering device and register plate applicable thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fountain brush embodying the instant invention is generally designated by the arrow 10 and includes a handle member 11 comprising two halves 11a and 1112 respectively, a bristle head 12, a flexible resilient tube 13, a bristle head cap 14 and a combined tube retractor and paint metering unit 15.

Each component half 11a and 11b of handle member 11 has formed centrally and longitudinally therein a semicircular trough, the said troughs, upon halves 11a and 11b being united, forming a longitudinal tunnel 16. Halves 11a and 11b of handle member 11 are retained together by means of screws 17.

Bristle head 12 is attache-d to handle member 11 in the manner conventional to all paint brushes, the bristles 12a thereof being embedded within an anchorage 18 which, in turn, is secured within the shoulder section of fountain brush 10. It will be observed that anchorage 18 'has a tunnel 18a formed centrally and vertically therethrough, tunnel 18a being of like diameter to tunnel 16 to handle member 11.

Tube 13, which preferably should be of a. suitable resilient plastic :material, is of such an outside diameter as to permit its passing freely through tunnels 16 and 18a, tube 13 having an intake end 13a and a discharge end 13b, the latter being adapted to be located within the bristles 12a of bristlewhead' 12.

It will be observed that cap 14 has an oblong opening 19 defined by a downwardly depending wall 20, wall 20 extending down to circular bottom wall 21. Bottom wall 21 may, if desired, have an oblong configuration. An elongate vertically disposed sealing rod 22 projects upwardly and centrally from bottom wall 21 red 2-2 ter minating somewhat below the opening edge of cap 14.

Intake end 1311 of tube 13 is connected to a conventional container pressure pump 23. It would be advantageous for pump 23 to be of the type which is adaptable to power operation or manual operation. Pump 23 having a pump handle 24 provided therewith fOI manual pumping where electric mains supply is unobtain able. Pump 23 is depicted here as having an outlet spigot 25, an electrical switch unit 26 and a mains inlet lead 27, although it will be understood that this ismerely representational of a form of container pressure pump.

'End 13b of tube 13 is supplied with a plurality of vertically disposed slits 27a, slits 27a rendering end 13b brushlike and flexible so that in the event of fountain brush 10 being used with end 13b of tube 13 level with or imrnediately subadjacent the tips of bristles 12a, no scoring of the freshly applied paint occurs.

Upon inserting bristles 12a within cap 14 it will be seen that rod 22 will enter tube 13 via terminal end 13b thereof, thus completely sealing tube 13, the significance of which will be detailed subsequently.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 it will be seen that half section 11a of handle member 11 has an elongate, rectangular cut-out portion 28 formed longitudinally therein, cutout portion 28 being parallel aligned with tunnel 16 and opening thereinto. A slide block 29 having a substantially rectangular base section and a circular top section forming a register plate 35, is adapted to captively slide in either direction longitudinally within cutout portion 28, block 29 being retained therein by tongue and groove means or the like.

Slide block 29 'has formed centrally therethrough a threaded orifice 30, wherein a co-operalbly threaded pin 31 is located.

Pin 31, which has a rounded terminal end 32, has a knurled-edged twist knob 33, the face of which has marked thereon a radially disposed datum line 34. Circular register plate 35 bears on its face towards the outer edge thereof indicia representative of the flow rate of paint.

In operation, pump/container 23 is activated, paint therein being expelled under pressure and entering end 13a of tube 13 wherealfter it flows through tube 13 to issue from the terminal end 13b thereof. By adjusting pin 31 within slide block 29, tube 13 may be crimped (as illustrated particularly in FIG. 4) the degree of crimping dictating the flow of paint through tube 13. It is suggested that four main settings be indicated on register plate 35:

(1) Heavy flow (2) Medium flow 3 Light flow (4) Very light flow The zero setting would allow substantially unrestricted flow therethrough although it is intended that end 32 of pin 31 still be in pressural contact with tube 13 at zero setting.

Upon .a user of fountain brush wishing to charge bristle head 12 substantially completely, slide block 29 is biased upwardly along the line indicated by the double head arrow A, this being simply achieved by light thumb pressure on knob 33. As ring member 36, securely attached .to block 29, is holding tube 13 to block 29, the said tube will move an equivalent distance, end 13b thereof being retracted to a location toward the base of bristles 12a thereby allowing paint to charge the complete depth of bristle head 12. However, upon a user requiring the tips of bristles 12a only to be charged, the reverse action is imparted.

Thus it will be seen that a very accurate control of the amount of flow of paint and the depth of brush charging may be obtained by the user of fountain brush 10.

Any excess paint remaining within tube 13 subsequent to use is prevented from escape by means of sealing rod 22 and cap 14 when aflixed serves as a stand, maintaining fountain bnush 10 in the vertical attitude, ready for immediate use. The general design of the individual parts of the invention as explained above may be varied according to the requirements of manufacture and production thereof while still remaining within the spirit and principle of the invention with-out prejudicing the novelty thereof.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

I claim:

1. In combination with a paint container/pressure pump, a fountain brush including a flexible, resilient tube having an intake end and a discharge end; handle means, said handle means having a centrally located longitudinal tunnel formed therethrough; a bristle head, said bristle head comprising a bristle anchorage and a plurality of bristles embedded therein at their basal extremities; said anchorage having a vertical tunnel formed therethrough and centrally thereof; said bristle head and said handle being detachably attached; said handle tunnel and said anchorage tunnel being of like diameter and joining in axial alignment; said tube being of such a diameter as to permit its insertion within said handle tunnel and said anchorage tunnel; said intake end of said tube being in communication with said paint container/ pressure pump, and said discharge end of said tube terminating within said bristles; a metering device, said metering device includes a threaded pin, said pin having a knurled edge knob and a rounded end; said pin being threadably received within said handle means and transversally thereof, said rounded end of said pin entering said handle tunnel and making pressural contact with said tube; advancement of said pin within said handle crimping said tube, said crimping being in proportion to the amount of advancement of said pin; a register plate, said register plate being located immediately su'bjacent said knob of said pin, said register plate bearing indicia upon its face, said indicia being representative of the rate of paint flow through said tube; and said knob having a datum line marked on its end face, said datum line being radially disposed and relating to said indicia on said register plate.

2. In combination with a paint container/pressure pump, a fountain brush including a flexible, resilient tube having an intake end and a discharge end; handle means, said handle means having a centrally located longitudinal tunnel formed therethrough; a bristle head, said bristle head comprising a bristle anchorage and a plurality of bristles embedded therein at their basal extremitiess; said anchorage having a vertical tunnel formed therethrough and centrally thereof; said bristle head and said handle being detachably attached; said handle tunnel and said anchorage tunnel being of like diameter and joining in axial alignment; said tube being of such a diameter as to permit its insertion within said handle tunnel and said anchorage tunnel; said intake end of said tube being in communication with said paint container/ pressure pump, and said discharge end of said tube terminating within said bristles, and said discharge end of said tube has its terminal section provided with a plurality of longitudinally disposed slits; a metering device, said metering device includes a threaded pin, said pin having a knurled edge knob and a rounded end; said pin being threadably received within said handle means and transversally thereof, said rounded end of said pin entering said handle tunnel and making pressural contact with said tube; advancement of said pin within said handle crimping said tube, said crimping being in proportion to the amount of advancement of said pin; a register plate, said register plate being located immediately subjacent said knob of said pin, said register plate bearing indicia upon its face, said indicia being representative of the rate of paint flow through said tube; and said knob having a datum line marked on its end face, said datum line being radially disposed and relating to said indicia on said register plate.

3. In combination with a paint container/pressure pump, a fountain brush including a flexible, resilient tube having an intake end and a discharge end; handle means, said handle means having a centrally located logitudinal tunnel formed therethrough; a bristle head, said bristle head comprising a bristle anchorage and a plurality of bristles embedded therein at their basal extremities; said anchorage having a vertical tunnel formed therethrough and centrally thereof; said bristle head and said handle being detachably attached; said handle tunnel and said anchorage tunnel being of like diameter and joining in axial alignment; saidtube being of such a diameter as to permit its insertion within said handle tunnel and said anchorage tunnel; said intake end of said tube being in communication with said paint container/ pressure pump, and said discharge end of said tube terminating within said bristles; a metering device, said metering device includes a threaded pin, said pin having a knurled edge knob and a rounded end; said pin being threadably received within said handlemeans and transversally thereof, said rounded end of said pin entering said handle tunnel and making pressural contact with said tube; advancement of said pin within said handle crimping said tube, said crimping being in proportion to the amount of advancement of said pin; a register plate, said register plate being located immediately subjacent said knob of said pin, said register plate bearing indicia upon its face, said indicia being'representatve of the rate of paint flow through said tube; and said knob having a datum line marked on its face, said datum line being radially disposed and relating to said indicia on said register plate; means for the selective ad vancing and retracting of said discharge end of said tube,

said advancing and retracting means includes a threaded pin, said pin having a knobbed end and a rounded end; a slide block with a substantially rectangular base section and a circular top section carrying a ring member to grip said tube, said slide block being captively and slidably operable Within a co-operable cut-out portion formed longitudinally Within said handle means; said cut-out portion being in communication with said handle tunnel; a threaded orifice formed centrally through said slide block and at right angles to the longitudinal aXis of said handle 10 means; said rounded end of said pin passing through said orifice and making pressural contact with said tube; and said discharge end of said tube being retracted to the base of said bristles by said slide block being biased upwardly Within said cut-out portion, the ring member caus- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 524,132 8/ 1894 Constant 15-604 X 1,049,863 1/1913 Happle et al 15592 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,394 8/ 1950 Australia.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

15 S. E. BECK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A PAINT CONTAINER/PRESSURE PUMP, A FOUNTAIN BRUSH INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE, RESILIENT TUBE HAVING AN INTAKE END AND A DISCHARGE END; HANDLE MEANS, SAID HANDLE MEANS HAVING A CENTRALLY LOCATED LONGITUDINAL TUNNEL FORMED THERETHROUGH; A BRISTLE HEAD, SAID BRISTLE HEAD COMPRISING A BRISTLE ANCHORAGE AND A PLURALITY OF BRISTLES EMBEDDED THEREIN AT THEIR BASAL EXTREMITIES; SAID ANCHORAGE HAVING A VERTICAL TUNNEL FORMED THERETHROUGH AND CENTRALLY THEREOF; SAID BRISTLE HEAD AND SAID HANDLE BEING DETACHABLY ATTACHED; SAID HANDLE TUNNEL AND SAID ANCHORAGE TUNNEL BEING OF LIKE DIAMETER AND JOINING IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT; SAID TUBE BEING OF SUCH A DIAMETER AS TO PERMIT ITS INSERTION WITHIN SAID HANDLE TUNNEL AND SAID ANCHORAGE TUNNEL; SAID INTAKE END OF SAID TUBE BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID PAINT CONTAINER/PRESSURE PUMP, AND SAID DISCHARGE END OF SAID TUBE TERMINATING WITHIN SAID BRISTLES; A METERING DEVICE, SAID METERING DEVICE INCLUDES 